COURT ORDERS SENATE TO RECALL SENATOR NATASHA, FAULTS SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION AS EXCESSIVE
In a landmark judgment that reverberates through Nigeria’s legislative chambers, the Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the immediate recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, describing her six-month suspension from the Senate as excessive, unconstitutional, and a gross injustice to her constituents.
Presiding over the matter, Justice Binta Nyako did not mince words in her ruling. She faulted the Senate’s decision to suspend the Kogi Central lawmaker for half a legislative year, asserting that such a punishment, though within the Senate’s powers, must not infringe on the democratic rights of the electorate.
“A lawmaker is elected to serve,” Justice Nyako said sternly. “Suspending one for 180 out of 181 sitting days is effectively silencing the people who sent her here.”
The court declared both Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act as overreaching, lacking clear limits on disciplinary sanctions. According to the judge, any disciplinary action that deprives constituents of representation violates the spirit of Nigeria’s democratic framework.
Yet, in a nuanced judgment, the court also held Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan partially accountable. It upheld Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s decision to deny her the floor during a plenary session, stating that she was not seated in her officially designated spot. Furthermore, the judge imposed a ₦5 million fine on the embattled senator for breaching a court order that barred parties from making public comments on the case. She is also mandated to publish a formal apology in two national dailies within seven days.
The ruling represents a complex win for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, who remains embroiled in multiple legal battles. She is facing two separate charges of cybercrime and defamation before different courts in Abuja — legal clouds that continue to cast shadows on her political future.
A Crisis Brewing Since February
The drama dates back to a chaotic plenary on February 20, 2025, when a dispute over Senate seat allocations led to an explosive altercation. Senator Natasha accused Senate President Akpabio of sexual harassment and abuse of office, accusations he categorically denied.
What followed was a swift and heavy-handed response: a six-month suspension by the Akpabio-led Senate and the dismissal of Natasha’s petition as “dead on arrival” by the Senate disciplinary committee, citing procedural technicalities.
The female lawmaker, refusing to be silenced, refiled the petition. Meanwhile, she also filed a ₦100 billion defamation suit against Akpabio, further intensifying the already toxic rift.
This isn’t the first time the two have clashed. In July 2024, Akpabio publicly apologised to Natasha after facing backlash for a demeaning comment he made about her during a late-night Senate debate.
This court ruling may force the Senate to revisit its internal disciplinary processes. While it reaffirms the legislature’s power to self-govern, it also draws a hard line against punitive actions that marginalise democratic representation.
The Senate has yet to respond officially to the ruling, but political observers say the judgment could set a powerful precedent for how legislative conflicts and internal sanctions are handled in future.
As Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan prepares to return to the Red Chamber albeit under the burden of fines and ongoing trials the bigger question remains: can a fractured Senate still work together to serve the Nigerian people?
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COURT ORDERS SENATE TO RECALL SENATOR NATASHA, FAULTS SIX-MONTH SUSPENSION AS EXCESSIVE